NATIONAL NEWS RECAP: TOP STORIES OF THE WEEK

National News Recap: Top Stories Of The Week

July 13, 2008

JonBenet's family cleared

Prosecutors said new DNA tests have ruled out JonBenet Ramsey's family as suspects in the 1996 killing of the 6-year-old beauty princess. John and Patsy Ramsey were long said to be under an "umbrella of suspicion" in the slaying. Boulder County District Atty. Mary Lacy apologized to the family, saying, "To the extent that this office has added to the distress suffered by the Ramsey family at any time or to any degree, I offer my deepest apology." The case remains unsolved.

Bush OKs surveillance bill

President George W. Bush signed a foreign intelligence surveillance bill that sets new terms for how the U.S. can spy on suspected terrorists and provides retroactive immunity to telecommunications companies for participating in the government's program to eavesdrop on Americans without warrants.

Salmonella probe widens

Salmonella poisoning has sickened more than 1,000 people in 41 states, the District of Columbia and Canada, and federal health officials are now looking at jalapeno and serrano peppers for possible links to the outbreak. At least one person has died. What's next: The number of illnesses is tapering off, hampering continued efforts to trace the source.

Drug guidelines criticized

The recommendation of cholesterol drugs for children as young as 8 stirred a furious debate among doctors since the American Academy of Pediatrics issued the suggestion last week. While some doctors applauded the idea, others were incredulous, calling attention to a lack of evidence that the use of statins in children would prevent heart attacks later in life.

Boeing to bid again

Chicago-based Boeing is preparing to bid again for a controversy-racked $35 billion contract to provide aerial tankers to the Air Force. Pentagon officials said they would reopen the competition, citing flaws in the process that led the Air Force to select a consortium led by Northrop Grumman Corp. and the France-based parent of Airbus SAS.

Obama accepts apology

Barack Obama accepted Jesse Jackson's apology for disparaging him. Apparently not realizing a studio camera and microphone were live, Jackson whispered that Obama had been "talking down to black people" in his calls for more parental responsibility. Jackson then made an off-color remark. The moment framed a generational divide in parts of the black community over Obama's presidential bid while providing another distraction for his campaign.

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